The Maven — Restaurant in Leeds

Booked The Green Room for my 30th - specifically selected The Maven because its always been one of my favourite bars in Leeds. Everything was great through the organisation process - Megan was great during the booking process, and her and Megs were great at answering my queries through Tagvenue.

First, the good stuff - The Maven always has a really good atmosphere, and I love the fact it's bespoke (so you can order off menu). From an event organising perspective, it was great to have so much free will - caterers were offered but not pushed on me and I was told I could decorate or move the furniture however I wanted - I couldn't ask for more. We hit our minimum spend (which was very reasonable for a Saturday night) and were quickly refunded.

The only disappointment came upon arriving at the venue - I had notified the venue that I would turn up (40 minutes) early to setup the room, and was told this was fine. The bartender on shift wasn't happy with that, and said he "couldn't be bothered" to pour the processco or serve any drinks any earlier than half 7 (the time I told the venue that guests would arrive). Many of my guests reported issues with his demeanour (he was cold/unfriendly/would ignore people trying to order) or his lack of knowledge of the bar he was working/drinks he was making. A couple of guests also reported issues with the door staff, such as telling lone women they could only enter "if they were single" and asking for proof of why...

This is a little known venue above the amusement shop and opposite the Donna kebab shop, at the start of Call Lane (Leeds Market end). The entrance is via a door front and immediate stairs. There are different featured rooms and capacities. We were in the Highland room which holds around 50 - 100 people depending on sitting or standing. There's a PA system with a tablet you can sign into (Spotify or bring your own iPad or DJ). There's no disco light but a £30 disco light works well to create a small dance floor area. Table tops were available for food (we purchased or own from Costco). There's security on the door but did find a couple of strangers walking in, but they were were lost! (bring a bigger sign with you?) or they were trying for a free sandwich - either way, once challenged, they left without any issues or fuss!!! Staff were plenty-full and we (80 at its peak time) seldom queued for more than 5 mins. All staff and security were friendly and helpful both on the lead up to the day and on the night. There is no lift, but there is a great loading area or drop-off point outside. Taxis frequently pass. Our group easily exceeded the minimum spend. The drinks were average city centre prices, beers were available in bottles only (No draft - in the Highland room. Not sure about the others?) Give them a call to find out more, very accommodating :) give me a thumbs up if this info is useful or you like my...

On Thursday, 14th December, I and three friends visited the Maven. Although our visit was unplanned, I had always considered it to be a reliable establishment known for its refined atmosphere and dependable cocktail offerings.

However, upon arrival, it was evident that there were at least two private parties taking place, characterized by the presence of inebriated young women. As I entered the ladies' restroom, I found it overcrowded with around six individuals from these private parties, leaving little space for other patrons. The condition of the restroom was appalling, with vomit scattered everywhere, thereby undermining the cleanliness and appeal of the establishment.

Furthermore, the mixologists, seemingly prioritizing the larger parties, appeared to neglect our presence and treat us as an afterthought. When a member of our group expressed that her drink was too strong, a mixologist made her another drink and with sheer audacity asked “But you will like this one ye?!” and, remarkably, charged her for the replacement, demonstrating a lack of sensitivity to customer satisfaction.

In sum, our experience at the Maven was highly disappointing and unacceptable, particularly given the steep prices associated with the...